Ontario Tories dismiss staffer over hacking of Liberal website

An employee of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario has been dismissed after an alleged attempt to hack into an Ontario Liberal Party website that has since sparked a police investigation.

Interim leader Bob Runciman said the unnamed staffer, who worked for the Conservative caucus in Toronto, was dismissed in February after the party learned of the allegations of "interference" with the website.

Runciman didn't provide many details but said the party learned of the allegations last month from the clerk of the legislative assembly.

The clerk informed Andy Pringle, chief of staff to then Conservative leader John Tory, that there had been an attempt to hack the Liberal website and that it was traced back to the legislative assembly, Runciman said.

The legislature conducted its own investigation, which traced the effort back to two computers used by the Progressive Conservative party, he said.

"On the basis of that, an individual was suspended, and he is no longer in the employ of the party," Runciman said.

He and Opposition House Leader Elizabeth Witmer were informed Monday that Toronto police were looking into the matter.

Runciman said the party will co-operate fully with the police investigation.